HOLDERS Kidsgrove cruised into the Staffs FA Senior Cup final after hammering a young Stoke City outfit 4-0 at the Seddon Stadium last night.

Kidsgrove, too strong and experienced for their visitors, could even afford the luxury of seeing a penalty saved in front of a healthy crowd of 210.

City goalkeeper Dale Eve, one of the few to impress for the visitors, saved the spot-kick from Danny Griggs when the game was goal-less after Dave Walker had seen his cross handled by Andy Hall.

It was a short-lived reprieve for Stoke, however, as Kidsgrove deservedly went in front just before the break when Walker tapped in his 100th goal for the club after Andy Kinsey had headed Danny Smith's free-kick across goal.

Kidsgrove doubled their lead on 56 minutes after Kinsey teed up Danny Griggs for a low shot across the keeper.

Stoke were becoming a little ragged by the time Grove made it three on 68 when Kinsey out-jumped Emmanuel Parry to head home Paul Taylor's left-wing cross.

And the scoring was completed six minutes later when another free-kick caused problems as the omnipresent Kinsey guided the ball on for Karl Charlton to head in.

Substitute John Johnstone lobbed the keeper and just missed the target as Kidsgrove threatened a fifth in stoppage time.

Stoke, out-muscled and outclassed by older opposition, came closest inside the first 10 minutes of the game when Louis Moult spun and steered his shot across the face of goal.

Kidsgrove are now set to meet Rushall Olympic in the final on a date to be confirmed.

Stoke boss Dave Kevan admitted: "They were worthy winners. It was a tough lesson for our lads in having to cope with a physical threat and maybe the next stage of their development is going to play in that type of football.

"Our goalkeeper was arguably our best player and it's unfortunate that the scoreline may not reflect that."

Grove boss Peter Ward added: "We are over the moon to get into the final again. It was a good game of football because both teams tried to play, but we just over-powered them.

"I'm really pleased for Dave to get his 100th goal in only two-and-a-half years with us, especially getting it after missing a penalty. It's a great performance from him."